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Ole Paulsen (1) Erlend D. Bertelsen (1) CP Aqua Studio (2)

Another one of the smaller black and white pattern Cactus Plecos. As they age, P. sp. “Alenquer” (L520) develops a slightly different pattern. It can can also be confused with several other Pseudacanthicus species. L282 from Colombia looks similar, but has whiter spots which fades away with age. L065 has a similar pattern too, but is usually less spotted and has more white in the caudal fin when young. L452 is also very similar, but is collected far away in Rio Tapiche, Peru. Description: The Pseudacanthicus genera have the common name of Cactus catfishes due to their bodies being covered with spiny odontodes. Their mouths are small with a few bicuspid teeth in the jaws. Aquarium Care: Pseudacanthicus can be highly territorial especially when adult, so a large aquarium of at least 5ft (150cm) would be beneficial to this species. Provide plenty of shelters in the aquarium and line -of- sight barriers if more than one species is kept. Diet: As with all of this genera they are carnivores and would need to be fed on frozen foods such as Artemia, mosquito larvae, mysis and shrimp. They can also be fed pellet and tablet foods. Remarks: German aquarist Markus Kaluza has issued the latest L-Number as L520, and assigned it to a Pseudacanthicus from Brazil. It has been known in the hobby for more than a decade, but it took years to find out where it really originates from. The few available specimens over the years were imported as bycatches of L65 or mixed in with totally different species (Daniel Konn-Vetterlein). Before being given an L-number it was initally named as Pseudacanthicus sp. 'Alenquer'.

Pseudacanthicus sp. 'Alenquer', L520

None

Loricariidae

Brazil: Rio Curuá near Alenquer.

25.0cm. (10ins)

25-29°c (77-85°f)

6.0-7.5.

Daniel Konn-Vetterlein, pers. comm.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
www.loricariidae.info